In summer 2003, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation awarded a grant to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to address the national need for community college leaders. An extensive data-gathering process, part of the AACC Leading Forward project, resulted in the creation of the AACC competencies for community college leaders. This chapter examines the driving forces behind the initiative and the development of the competencies. Lessons learned fall into two domains: (1) designing and implementing a national project inclusive of a wide range of voices; and (2) current approaches and thinking about leadership in community colleges.